Library Card

If you work in the Charlevoix Public Library district, but do not live within the boundaries of the PAC2 Consortium, you can now receive a Charlevoix Public Library card to use all the services provided to library patrons. The PAC2 Consortium includes the residents of the following libraries: Alanson, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Walloon, Petoskey, Cheboygan, Presque Isle County, Alcona County, and Montmorency County. The Charlevoix Public Library Board of Trustees recently passed a new strategic plan which included a goal of “Fostering positive and lasting relationships with Charlevoix businesses.

The smartest card in your wallet of course is your library card. If you don?t already have a library card, register for one this fall, then use your Charlevoix Public Library card to receive a discount at local Charlevoix businesses during the smartest card campaign: Sept. 22 through Oct. 5. Local businesses have joined together with the Charlevoix Public library to help promote Library Card Sign-up Month by encouraging residents to register for their own library card. First-grade students who attend school in Charlevoix will visit the library during the campaign and receive their own library card.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and the Charlevoix Public Library wants to make sure that everyone in Charlevoix has the smartest card of all ? a library card. Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning. The Charlevoix Public Library will be hosting every 1st grader in the community at the library for a visit and to receive their first library card.

National Children's Book Week All events and activities have been planned and sponsored by the Friends of the Otsego County Library. Library cards are always useful, but during Children's Book Week it becomes even more special. Throughout the week of Nov. 12-17, children in grades K-6 will receive a free gift by showing their library card at participating businesses. Business sponsors will be posted at all public and school libraries and listed on all promotional materials.

GAYLORD ?It?s November and time again for the ninth annual ?Show Your Card? program at the Otsego County Library. Families may come to any branch of the library and pick up a Business Sponsor List for their children. There will be no sponsor lists given out at schools. Then from Nov. 11-18 only, preschool through sixth-grade children may take their sponsor list and their Otsego County Library card to the businesses around town to collect free goodies. The purpose of this event is to highlight the importance of reading to children and also obtaining or updating a library card.

GAYLORD - The Otsego County Library is joining in the 91st year celebration of Children's Book Week. Back by popular demand is the 11th-annual Show Your Card program, which is designed to have every child get and use their own library card. From Nov. 14-19, preschoolers through sixth-graders may come to the library, pick up a sponsor list and with their library card visit any of this year's 18 sponsors. Sponsor locations this year include Alpine Chocolat Haus, BC Pizza, Ben Franklin, Big Boy, Bob Evans, Call of the Wild, Culver's, Dairy Queen, Jet's Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Little Caesars Pizza, Otsego County Sportsplex, 7-Eleven, Spicy Bob's Italian Express, Taco Bell, Tools to Teach, Tim Horton's and Wendy's.

GAYLORD — The Otsego County Library is joining the 90th year celebration of Children’s Book Week and back by popular demand is the 10th annual Show Your Card, a program designed to have every child get and use their own library card. From Nov. 15-20 only, preschoolers through sixth graders may come to the library, pick up a sponsor list and with their library card, visit any of the 18 generous sponsors this year. Sponsor locations this year include: Alpine Chocolat Haus, BC Pizza, Ben Franklin, Call of the Wild, Dairy Queen, Jet’s Pizza, KFC and Wendy’s (all 9- or 10-year sponsors)

GAYLORD - Otsego County Library's Teen Advisory Board (TAB) recently received a $1,000 grant from Community Financial Credit Union. “I am so proud of the time and effort TAB members are contributing,” said Laura Mastenbrook, youth services specialist for the library. “A special thanks goes to Maddy Zeilinger with assisting in the grant request.” This grant will help the library continue to provide excellent teen services with input from the teen board. More than 40 teens are reading “Legend,” the first book club selection.

GAYLORD - The Otsego County Library continues to celebrate National Children's Book Week with the annual "Show Your Card" program for children, ages preschool to sixth grade. During the week of Nov. 17-23 only, children may take their library card to participating businesses, showing that they love to read. The sponsors will then present them a free gift. The library also will be giving away one free book to each child who shows his or her card. Book cards with the list of participating sponsors will be handed out at schools on Monday or may be picked up at the library.

Judith Alexander Brice will read selections from her new book of poetry, "Renditions in a Palette," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Carnegie building on Mitchell Street in downtown Petoskey. The Petoskey District Library is sponsoring "An Evening With Judith Brice. " The event is free to library card holders and their guests. Cardholders may pick up their tickets, in advance only, at the library's circulation desk. Though there is no charge, it is a ticketed event because seating is limited and refreshments will be served.

GAYLORD - Otsego County Library's Teen Advisory Board (TAB) recently received a $1,000 grant from Community Financial Credit Union. “I am so proud of the time and effort TAB members are contributing,” said Laura Mastenbrook, youth services specialist for the library. “A special thanks goes to Maddy Zeilinger with assisting in the grant request.” This grant will help the library continue to provide excellent teen services with input from the teen board. More than 40 teens are reading “Legend,” the first book club selection.

GAYLORD - The Otsego County Library is participating in the first-ever global library book club, The Big Library Read, with readers from around the world uniting around a single eBook. “The Four Corners of the Sky” by Michael Malone will be prominently displayed on the library's Digital Library Web site and will be simultaneously available for any and all readers with a library card to browse, sample and borrow from now through Saturday, June 1. A quick link is available at www.otsegocountylibrary.org.

GAYLORD - The 12th annual Otsego County Library “Show Your Card” program is back by popular demand and is taking place now through Friday. Preschoolers to sixth-graders may come to the library, 700 S. Otsego Ave., and get a new card or update their current card and pick up the official sponsor list. They can then visit the sponsoring businesses and show both their library card and list to receive a free goodie. “A library card allows patrons of all ages to access the many resources, programs and services found at the library.

GAYLORD - Otsego County Library's Teen Book Club met July 16 with 13 participants raving about the first book selection, “The Maze Runner,” by James Dashner. In this trilogy, main character Thomas must work with other teen boys to escape a maze. Holly Greif was the book club's lucky winner of the trilogy book set. This series is available at the library in standard book format or downloadable e-book. The Gaylord Discovery Center hosted the library group providing a hands-on opportunity to see what fun and adventure “big kids” can have there.

Friends of the Petoskey Library will host its spring card party from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 7, at the Petoskey-Bay View Country Club. Lunch will be followed by bridge, mahjong, or a board game of choice. For reservations, email Joyce Hutto-Nolan at huttojoyce@yahoo.com or call (231) 529-6685. Proceeds from the event will benefit the library.

Potential new library services HARBOR SPRINGS -- Harbor Springs residents may soon look to the Alanson Area Public Library for some of their library services, a move discussed at the Harbor Springs city council meeting Monday night. Currently, Harbor Springs residents can hold a library card to Petoskey Public Library, said city manager Tom Richards, which the city of Harbor Springs subsidizes at a cost of $20 per library card holder. But a rise in cost of those services at the Petoskey library has the city of Harbor Springs eyeing a similar and less expensive agreement with Alanson.

GAYLORD - On a cold winter night there is nothing more relaxing than settling down with a good book. As temperatures dip, the Otsego County Library invites the community to participate in Hot Reads for Cold Nights, a reading rewards program for adults and teens. The program is now under way and will run through Saturday, March 10. People who register will receive a free advance copy of a recent or forthcoming book and a colorful Hot Reads magnet to help keep track of library checkout slips (while supplies last)

ALANSON - A new service at Alanson Area Public Library is making it easier for patrons to get the books and materials they need, without leaving their home. The library recently added the capability to check out audiobooks, eBooks, music and video from the library's website. Those with library cards can check out and download digital media at any time by visiting the library's website. “A lot of people really wanted this service and have been asking about it for a long time,” said librarian, Nicky Haller.